New York local language
What does “brick” mean?
Extremely cold outside. Learn its pronunciation, local context, realistic examples, and when a more neutral phrase is safer.
Meaning and local context
brick means Extremely cold outside. in New York local language. A well-known New York slang use referring to harsh weather.
How it is used
It is commonly used as a complete description: it is brick outside. One example is “It is brick outside.”, which corresponds to “It is extremely cold outside.” in plain English.
Example interpretation
A second example is “Last night was brick.”, where the same local sense is expressed as “Last night was bitterly cold.”. Reading both examples together helps distinguish this regional meaning from other possible readings of the word or phrase.
Tone and register
The word has many unrelated meanings, so context is essential. This caution is part of understanding “brick”: the definition tells you what it means, while the surrounding situation and tone help you judge whether using it yourself is appropriate.
- Pronunciation
- BRIK
- Register
- Informal regional speech
- Place
- New York
Examples in conversation
It is brick outside.
It is extremely cold outside.
Last night was brick.
Last night was bitterly cold.